The No. 1 Alabama women’s golf team shot 289, 1-over-par, in the opening round of the 2012 Cougar Classic on the par-72, 6,219-yard Yeamans Hall Club.

The Crimson Tide is tied for seventh but with only four shots off the lead of Southern California (-3, 285). Duke, Florida and Virginia are tied for second at 2-under 286 with Georgia in fifth at 287 and Auburn sixth at even-par 288. Alabama is tied with Vanderbilt.

“It was just an average round,” head coach Mic Potter said. “We had a lot of chances and didn’t convert them very well, so I’m hoping we can make a few more putts tomorrow and we will be fine. We played an average round and we are still within striking distance of the leaders, so that is encouraging.”

Senior Jennifer Kirby shot a 2-under-par 70 in Sunday’s opening round. She is tied for eighth place after a round that featured five birdies, a bogey and a double bogey. Kirby teed off on the 10th hole and made the turn on the 18th hole at 1-over par. She then played bogey-free golf with three birdies on her closing nine holes.

Junior Stephanie Meadow and true freshman Emma Talley both carded even-par rounds of 72 on the first day of action and are tied for 21st position. Meadow was steady throughout her round with two birdies and two bogeys while Talley made four birdies but saw double bogeys on no. 1 and no. 12 damage her round.

Sophomore Daniela Lendl, who made her first appearance in Alabama’s starting lineup, counted toward the Tide score at 3-over 75, tied for 73rd. Hannah Collier shot 77 and did count toward the team tally.